Members of Toronto’s Sudanese community are expressing feelings of abandonment by the Canadian government amidst the worsening violence in Sudan, despite the paramilitary in Sudan agreeing to a humanitarian ceasefire proposal from the United States and Arab powers. Following rebel forces seizing control of El Fasher on October 26 after an 18-month siege, disturbing reports of extortion, rape, and mass killings of civilians emerged.
Mamoun Hassan, a Sudanese Canadian filmmaker based in the Greater Toronto Area, conveyed to CBC Toronto that the community perceives Canada’s response to the humanitarian crisis as inadequate and betraying their trust. Describing a sense of disillusionment, Hassan stated, “We feel really, really betrayed. We feel like we’ve been told a lie about this country: that Canada cares for us as a people. And it’s just become so evident that that’s not the case.”
The civil war in Sudan, deemed by the United Nations as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, commenced in April 2023 and primarily involves conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Following the RSF’s seizure of El Fasher, there were reports of mass killings and a significant exodus of tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians from the region.
In Toronto, individuals like Iman Abbaro from the Sudanese community expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the layered nature of their grief. Abbaro highlighted the perceived insufficiency of Canada’s response, urging the government to uphold its pro-refugee and pro-immigration stance by facilitating asylum for Sudanese individuals seeking refuge in Canada.
While the Canadian government has implemented measures such as extending the stay of Sudanese nationals in the country and offering a family reunification program for some to obtain permanent residence through family sponsorship, Hassan argued that these actions fall short. He criticized the government’s response, comparing it unfavorably to the treatment of refugees from other regions, and questioned the impact of immigration level adjustments on aid provisions.
The York University Sudanese Student Association issued a statement urging for coordinated humanitarian aid, emphasizing the importance of peace, accountability, and concrete action from the global community, including the Canadian government, to assist those affected by the crisis. In a response to CBC Toronto, a communications advisor for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledged Canada’s concern over the Sudan conflict and outlined efforts to process a higher number of family sponsorship applications.
Ismail Kabar, who attended a peaceful protest in Toronto, shared his concerns about his cousin trapped in El Fasher during the conflict. Kabar called for heightened international humanitarian support and encouraged Canadians to contribute to aid efforts for those affected by the violence in Sudan.
